Chicago Open Air 2017 – Day With Slayer and Ozzy : Part 2

The final day of Chicago Open Air 2017 with the last two bands of the evening Slayer on the second stage and then the one and only “The Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne on the main stage with the his fellow brother on his left once again Zakk Wylde. Ozzy will reunite with longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde for a summer tour that marks the 30th anniversary of when the two first collaborated. But first lets get to Slayer as the crowd around the second stage is packed and fired up.

Headliner Ozzy Osbourne reunites with Zakk Wylde which has to be rock’s most lethal singer and guitarist pairings of all-time. This will be the first full tour together since 2006 as they just had played the first show July 14 with Rock USA in Oshkosh, Wis. and this Chicago Open Air is the second show.

Ozzy commented “I’m so happy to be getting back on the road with Zakk, Blasko, Tommy and Adam,” says OZZY OSBOURNE. “This is what I do. This is where I belong, on the road.”

Ozzy’s fans are out in full force as everyone is extremely excited to see the partners in crime Ozzy and Zakk together again doing what they do best kicking the shit out of you with their performance. Ozzy wasted no time welcoming everyone to the show as “Bark at the Moon” started the night off from the 1983’s third self titled studio album “Bark at the Moon” sounding vocally on point and musically in form the band just wasted no time going straight into a classic “Mr Crowley”, and then one of radio’s beloved songs you hear religiously “I Don’t Know.”

Fans from teen kids to 70 years or older were out in full force enjoying an Ozzy Osbourne who looked fit and in shape still running around back and forth on stage looking far more full of life and energy since the last time I’ve seen Ozzy few years ago and killing it at age 68. Zakk Wylde also looked slimmer and more fit than usual. With a large music catalog with so many hits and popular songs I would find it hard to create a setlist of songs to choose to play. As the band got together for rehearsals they figured they would go for some old classics songs and fan favorites to obscure choices to mix it up. Black Sabbath’s 1970 classic hit “Fairies wear Boots” which was the next song for this packed house which definitely made the the arena smell a bit nicer. From “Suicide Solution”, “No More Tears” and then a killer performance of “War Pigs” that also included mosh pits and a killer guitar solo starting about 7 minutes into the song as Zakk Wylde jumped out into the crowd between rails and shredded for nearly 4 minutes out there then Zakk made his way back to the stage and continued his guitar solo playing behind his back for about a minute long then started playing with his teeth for a half a minute to ending “War Pigs”.

Tommy Clufetos had his moment next to share his drumming talents with his drum solo next. Tommy kicked ass performing his drum solo which then led to Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” which is or at least was one of the first songs most kids learn on the guitar. The body surfing as not stopped this whole day as it continues on even during “Iron Man”. I’ll never forget that every time I hear “Shot in the Dark” I picture the UIC Pavilion show back in 1986 when Jake E Lee was so fucked up drunk for the Ultimate Sin tour and they had to end the night early because Jake E Lee couldn’t even perform. Probably not something that I want to remember but how can you forget.

“I Don’t Want to Change the World” and “Crazytrain were the last 2 songs before Encore songs “Mama I’m Coming Home” and Paranoid. The crowd all night was energetic and involved with the show that Ozzy and the band performed Zakk Wylde sounded killer all night with his signature squeals and the band was so tight and sounded great and props to Ozzy still rocking and sounding so great tonight.

As Ozzy Osbourne was finishing up with “Paranoid” I went backstage and as the show ended Ozzy quickly was escorted to his SUV as he sat in the backseat then Ozzy’s manager wife Sharon Osbourne then followed into the SUV as the Police escorted them out of the venue not to far behind were the other band mates in their own Mercedes van. I was able to briefly have a quick encounter with Zakk Wylde before he entered the van and complimented him on a great performance as well asked how he thought it went and he had nothing but praise and love for how the night went. This night of Ozzy Osbourne Headling and finishing the 2nd annual Chicago Open Air 2017 couldn’t have been more perfect.

Zakk Wylde posted on his Facebook page: “BIG OZZY THANKS To The CHICAGO,IL CHAPTER for Making it a DOOMTASTIC NIGHT!!! CHICAGO OPEN AIR!!! tBLSt SDMF”